NEWS: Looking For A New Family

I’ve been converted. I was watching a Instagram story of someone back home driving, and in my head I thought “OMG they’re driving on the wrong side of the road!”

I’ve gotten used to driving on the left!! Signaling with the correct hand is easy now but I haven’t gotten used to the mirrors.  While I drive, I will use all the mirrors when I need to, but I noticed that I don’t use the rear view mirror as often as I usually do. I find that when I sit on the passenger side (the left side) I’ll look up at the rear view mirror aaaall the time expecting to see behind me and it will throw me off when I can’t see (because it’s obviously facing the driver). But that habit of looking up is still there when I sit on the left. So weird.

Another weird that happens is when I order something and the portion is way bigger than I expect I'll say something like "Oh wow this is a huge plate" and people respond something along the lines of "But you're from America?" Like as if by default I'm supposed to be a huge fatty or something, it's pretty entertaining to see how our stereotypes play out to non-Americans. I've definitely been asked about Trump a bunch, healthcare, and about guns etc. and I usually just deflect and move on quickly. I don't really like talking about political stuff with people I don't know. And to be honest, I don't keep up with most American current events now that I've been here so I don't like making uneducated comments. But I don't know sometimes it's hard to talk to people here about controversial topics because some act like "OMG I could never live in the US, shootings aren't a big deal to you guys, it's scary, etc etc". And yes it's very scary that shootings have become a little normalized because of how frequent they are but it's not like we all go around not living life and not trying to better ourselves. It's pretty weird though because on the news channels here they are ALWAYS talking about what the US and Trump are doing and then I thought about how I never heard anything about Australia while in the states. It's barely on our radar at home, we're just so focused on what's happening to us. Not that Australia is doing much to talk about... (In the nicest way possible lol) Serious stuff; cringe. Moving on!

I also have gotten used to is TV ads in Australian accents. I remember the first week or two that I was here I was sooo entertained by tv ads because of the accents but now I don’t notice it. I’ve gotten asked a bunch about TV here, and besides different sports (no ESPN) they watch a lot of shows we watch. There’s the food channel which has like 80% shows the states would have and 20% cooking shows that are different.  There’s the life channel (this one is heavily used in this household) which has Fixer Upper, House Hunters, Flip or Flop, Say Yes To The Dress, KUWTK, Real Housewives, yada yada yada. They have their own version of Bachelor, & Bachelor in Paradise but they have American contestant guest stars, a show called Home & Away that “has been going on for way too many seasons”, oh and they have a show called My Kitchen Rules (aka MKR) and it’s a cooking competition with lots of drama! So basically food-channel and life-channels baby. It’s horribly awesome! 

There’s one thing that I miss more than I thought I was going to. It’s shopping. Everything is so expensive here!! Yes, I read everywhere that Australia was expensive before I came but it's still just so surprising to me. And then when I look and compare prices/do the conversion it makes me not want to buy things because of how overpriced it is! Also I didn’t realize howww much I depended on Amazon, and it's kind of bad. Especially getting ready for this upcoming trip (more on that in a sec) there’s little things that I want to get and instead of going around all stores looking for the best price I could just go on Amazon and get prime shipping for reliable quality. The huge selection of products and competitive prices makes shopping so easy on Amazon and I feel so spoiled in a bad way that I don't have it anymore. Also most people here in Sydney pay for their rent weekly or bi-weekly because it's so expensive and it would be hard to pay it all at monthly increments. (I'm sure there's other reasons too, like how some months have less number of days) But still, I've never heard of paying so frequently before.

So here’s the big news, some of you already know but due to some unfortunate circumstances, I will not be au pairing for the Entwisle family after this month. No harm no foul by either party, just time to move forward. I’m pretty bummed to be leaving this family, it’s been a fun 2 months (so far) and it just was starting to feel like things were settled, I got the routines down, I know where the dishes all go, I can drive to places around town without maps, etc. (Actually, today I got lost on the way home from the grocery stores... I thought I knew a backway) Also having Blake and Michelle right in the backyard was a bonus because they’re closer to my age and have been so amazing at including me in on activities. The news that I wasn't going to be continuing au pairing after the 3 month mark kind of caught me off guard. But once the initial shock wore off I thought,well this is an awesome opportunity to move closer to the city or the beach (right now I'm a little under and hour from the city by train). And maybe it will be easier to socialize and meet people my age if I'm closer to all the action.

Because I wasn't expecting to leave so soon I feel like I've barely written about the family, and especially now because my first post was deleted. So here's the DL.

Tim, Vance, Nox, Shae @ Umina Caravan Park

Vance is 11 months old now and he is the cutest, cuddliest, and smiliest baby. He is officially a full on walker now and last I checked he has 7.5 teeth. lol. Basically we just follow him around all day making sure he doesn’t take a tumble down some stairs or something. Everyday you feel the urge to say “You. Are. So. Stinking. Cute.” And you do. And you feel dumb cause you say it everyday. But he just has no idea how cute he is! He really seems to enjoy being read to and he's usually very good at playing quietly by himself. I think he's quiet because he's just watching his brother all the time. I think Vance thinks Nox is hilarious and it's super cute when they get along or when Nox does something over and over again just so Vance can laugh.

Nox is newly 2 years old and he is so energetic & curious. He’s the boyest boy ever. He loves anything with wheels, dinosaurs, garbage trucks, or construction equipment. You can’t take your eyes off this one because he is always doing something he shouldn’t be. Like terrorizing the dogs & his brother, picking and pulling at Michelle’s garden, and riding his wheeled toys up and down stairs and driveways. However, he's one smart cookie, he is a total copycat, his hand-eye coordination is quite impressive for his age, and when he isn't bouncing off the walls he's incredibly thoughtful. He'll be playing, not even watching you, and you'll stub your toe or say "ugh" or "ow" and he'll just look over and be like "Aivi, okay?"(or to anyone) Or like he'll do something semi sketchy, like stand on something high or wobbly and he'll say "Don't worry, Aivi, don't worry, Noxy be careful" it's adorable. He's always saying "Aivi, what doing?" over and over again and even though he's looking at you and knows exactly what you're doing, I think he just wants to talk and doesn't know how else to initiate conversation or talk about anything else. Both these boys are gonna be total heartbreakers someday.

On the weekends when I'm not "working" I find myself hanging out with them anyway for a little bit because they are so cute and fun. I'm pretty sad to leave them especially because the boys will more than likely not remember who I am as they grow up because they are so young and I've been here only for a tiny fraction of what will be their childhood.

Shae and I spend a lot of time together since Tim is usually away for work. She is a primary school teacher, she loves to listen to podcasts, and she currently is really into essential oils. It's funny whenever there's something wrong (aches, itchiness, discomfort in general) she'll be like "I have an oil for that!!" Tim is still semi-skeptical about it all. But I love it because most of the time that means the house smells like lavender from all the diffusers. Shae and I love to watch the Food Channel, Botched, & criticize homes on 9life shows like Fixer Upper & House Hunters together.

Tim is a pilot for Qantas so he travels a lot. When he's home he's always maintaining the yard, bumping rock and screamo (so angsty lol) in the garage, and tinkering around with things; like his motorbike. He always tells entertaining stories about him & his friends and it reminds me of all my friends back home and all the crazy/stupid stuff they all get into. Tim & Shae are so young and relatable that I'm gonna find it hard finding a new family who are as chill as these two.

Michelle & Blake live in the granny flat in the backyard. They both attend Macquarie University for their PhDs in Physics, total dorks and they know it! ;) They've been so nice, always inviting me to things since I've been here, and I love hanging with them. They always are giving me the deets on Australian things. They are the parents of a rescue Greyhound named Peach. Peach is so gentle and awkward it's always entertaining to watch her. Her skittishness is cute and she really puts up with a lot between the kids and Lily, Tim & Shae's first (fur) baby.

Peach @ Bayview Dog Park

Lily is a blue-eyed miniature dachshund who just lays around in the sun, barks at EVERYONE walking by the house on the streets, and will eat almost anything off the floor during the boys' meal times. She's a lil crazy but can be cute like when she comes in for a cuddle after the boys go to sleep for the night or when she has her tiny jackets on for cold evenings.

Lily @ home patiently waiting for people to walk by the house

And that's everyone at "the Squith"(the house nickname... also mentioned in the first post ugh). Oh actually and then there's Phill, Tim's twin brother who sometimes stays in the caravan because he's training for work as a Qantas pilot, and the Squith is closer, than his house, to work. I don't know much about Phill except for that he likes to work out (I think, he does it all the time), he has the CUTEST daughter, and apparently he's an outstanding fox hunter... Ha. Not really.

Anyway, life goes on, with this unexpected ending I have gotten the opportunity to go on a 2 month adventure to SE Asia with one of my best buds, Harrison Manning, as a break. I will be leaving for Bangkok on April 30th and will return to Sydney July 1st to au pair for a new family. It’s only 16 days away now and I’m in planning mode! Talking to new families to nanny for when I return (I have an in person interview tomorrow!! Fingers crossed everyone!), packing up my things so that they are out of the way while I’m gone, and getting supplies together for this 2 month trip!

I have only been to Vietnam with my parents when I was younger so I really have no idea what to expect! I would love to hear from anyone who’s been recently on what Harrison and I should have on our list of things to do/see. I think for sure we will be hitting the Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, & Cambodia loop, any other countries are yet to be decided. Let me know if you guys have any suggestions!

I really have been meaning to post more often so these aren't so long but I am just so lazy. And yesterday pictures weren't attaching to the page. But I will have a computer with me on my trip so hopefully I'll post while I'm away too!

Before I go, a couple updates.

TARGET!!

In my first post I wrote that Target was really disappointing and it still is. I initially said it was something like 90% clothes and 10% home stuff with no beauty stuff but but last week I found the beauty section!!

Yup, that's it. This tiny corner houses all of the ridiculously priced drug store brands. Like $22 Maybelline mascara. But still, better than nothing I guess?

And last but not least, slang update!

Keen- want or like to, example: "I'd be keen on going to the beach"(used a lot)

Trackie daks- sweatpants

Up the duff- pregnant (lol wut?)

Dag- Lame, nerdy, dork, example: "you're such a dag"

Daggy- Unstylish, example: "I was looking real daggy"

Mint slice- basically thin mint cookie

Lemon 'Slice'- Lemon bar (also used for other things ex. zucchini slice)

Zucchini slice- basically a frittata in bar form with shredded zucchini & other things

Puffed- out of breath

Sausage dog- weiner dog aka dachshund aka Lily

Hope everyone is surviving what looks like a monsoon on the West Coast! Meanwhile I'll be sweatin my face off here in this 33 degree weather... (celcius) 😎 <--- LOOK I FIGURED OUT HOW TO PUT EMOJIS.

TTYL.

Love,

Aivi